Engineering is to be launched on the A14 River Nene viaduct in Northamptonshire, UK which is able to allow motorists to proceed utilizing the highway when a significant repairs scheme is underway.
The present growth joint which wants changing ©Maurer
A big growth joint on the Northamptonshire viaduct must be changed having reached the top of its working life.
The work is anticipated to take three months however to maintain the highway open as a lot as potential, bridging plates are being put in spanning the excavated space which may be raised to permit entry for in a single day working and lowered for visitors to circulate within the daytime.
The type of recent joint which has by no means been utilized in UK earlier than. The one on the A14 can be narrower ©Mageba
With out utilizing these non permanent bridging plates, that are winched and locked into place throughout the works, the route would must be closed to all visitors 24/7 for a number of weeks.
The growth joint is between junctions 12 and 13. Enlargement joints are versatile gadgets designed to accommodate motion inside a construction attributable to thermal growth or contraction, or different forces resembling visitors.
“The present joint was put in 25 years in the past and has reached the top of its serviceable life. These joints stop stress build-up and potential cracking or harm so it’s important they’re properly maintained and changed when needed,” says Simon Wagstaff, Nationwide Highways undertaking supervisor. “However we admire that roadworks may be disruptive, notably on such a busy route, so we’ve got gone that additional mile to discover a answer which is able to minimise the affect on highway customers. For the security of our workforce and highway customers, we might want to shut the highway however will largely do this at evening once we know visitors numbers are decrease.”
One of many options of the brand new joint is a fast launch system so it may be changed in a single day ought to the necessity ever come up, considerably decreasing disruption. It additionally has noise decreasing plates to decrease the noise created by autos driving over it.
The scheme will begin on August 29. Members of the undertaking staff can be available to debate the work at a public data occasion on Tuesday 22 July. It takes place on the Co-op in Oundle Street, Thrapston, from 11am to 6pm.
Work will happen on the eastbound carriageway initially after which change to the westbound carriageway till the scheme is accomplished in December to minimise the affect on highway customers.
The A14 can be closed between junction 10 (Burton Latimer) and junction 13 (Thrapston) to cut back the quantity of visitors diverting by way of Thrapston and different smaller communities.
“We’re decided, the place potential, to minimise disruption for not solely the individuals utilizing our roads but additionally these in close by communities who could also be impacted by our work,” provides Wagstaff. “We’ve been working with the police, native councils and MP to know considerations about excessive volumes of visitors diverting by way of Thrapston, notably these ignoring the burden restrict. In the course of the work we can be reminding highway customers to observe the properly signed diversion route and never their Sat Navs.”
Contractor Carnell can have a security van in Thrapston to file HGVs ignoring the city’s weight restrict. This footage can be shared with police and transport managers contacted concerning the breaches.
